Protective coin return for telephone paystation

ABSTRACT

An improved protective coin return for a telephone paystation having a pivoted outer sweep flap with a downwardly depending end flap and at least one pivotable inner flap, all made from a high strength material. The outer sweep flap and the at least one inner flap replace the conventional door on coin returns so as to provide an open front portion whereby a telephone user may look into the coin retrieval area. Additionally, the outer and inner flaps cooperate together to expel unwanted materials from the coin return through a rear opening having a pivotable vapor flap cooperating therewith so that substantially all forces and gasses of any explosive materials detonated therein are blocked and dissipated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No.08/095,307, filed on Jul. 21, 1993.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to telephone paystation coin returns,and more particularly, to an improved protective coin return for atelephone paystation.

2. Description of Related Art

As is well known, increasing the security of coin operated telephones orpaystations installed in public places has long been a factor in theirdesign. The exterior of such paystations, and particularly the coinreturn area of known telephone paystations are vulnerable to thieves,vandals, or the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as"vandals"), and proposed solutions for solving this area ofvulnerability have failed to provide adequate protection to the existingpaystations. For example: persistent and resourceful vandals utilizetools to pry existing coin returns from the paystation housings; stuffvarious flexible materials through the opening in these coin returns;and/or insert and ignite cherry bombs, M-80s or other explosivematerials through the openings and behind the pivoting doors mounted insuch openings. Such vandalism causes widespread inconvenience andproblems, and costs millions of dollars each year. This is graphicallyspelled out in a recent study done by New York Telephone ("NYT") andpublished in the May 1993 issue of Public Communications Magazine,wherein it stated that it costs NYT over $10,000,000 per year to repairor replace payphones located in New York city. The study specificallypinpointed cherry bombs, or other explosive devices inserted in coinreturns, as the cause of much of the damage and resultant costs.

With the expected continued rise in revenues to be taken in by telephonepaystations over the years, it is obvious that they will become an evenmore attractive and lucrative target for vandals. In an attempt todissuade vandals, numerous attempts have been made to prevent thestuffing of flexible materials, or the insertion of explosives, into thecoin returns of telephone paystations. Such attempts include: addingexterior doors to the coin returns; adding armor around the coin return,or the door of the coin return; adding devices to the interior surfaceof the existing coin return door; the modification of the exterior coinreturn opening; the modification of the interior of the coin returndoor; the modification of the coin retrieval portion of the coin return;or the modification of the coin return chute. However, particularly inlarge metropolitan areas, such as New York City, this added protection,new devices, or modifications to the coin returns do not solve all ofthe problems, or prevent the need for expensive repairs or replacementsof telephone paystations.

Examples of suggested prior art solutions are shown in the followingU.S. Patents:

    ______________________________________                                        2,922,571 ("'571")  5,131,035 ("'035")                                        4,946,095 ("'095")  5,146,492 ("'492")                                        4,966,325 ("'325")  5,193,113 ("'113")                                        5,018,193 ("'193")                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The '571 patent discloses a change return device which includes a linkmember attached between the rear of the change return door and apivotable change return chute to rotate or pivot the chute out ofalignment when the change return door is opened, to thereby preventstuffing of materials into the coin chute.

The '095, '325 and '193 patents disclose change return protectiondevices attached to the rear of a change return door to seal off thechange return chute when the change return door is opened. The '095 and'193 patents also include blocking flaps and/or slot backing plates tofurther prevent insertion of flexible materials into the coin returnchute and to provide protection against explosives.

The '035 patent discloses a U-shaped shield welded to the paystationover the coin accumulation and coin return areas on the lower housing ofthe paystation. This U-shaped protective shield or plate is fixed orsecured over the outside of the existing lower housing and covers thecoin return opening to provide limited access into the coin returnopening. A door is pivotably mounted to the interior of the U-shapedprotective shield over the coin return opening and is dimensioned so asto provide a relatively small coin return access opening to help preventstuffing of the coin return area.

The '492, and '113 patents disclose change return protection deviceshaving modified coin chutes or special covers attached to the changereturn door to inhibit or prevent the insertion of explosive devicesand/or stuffing materials into the change return chute when the changereturn door is opened. The '492 patent also includes a flap gate pivotedin the coin return passage to allow only one coin at a time to pass intothe coin return area for retrieval.

Although the devices and modifications set forth in the above-identifiedpatents have prevented some of the known problems and hindered vandalsin some situations, they have not been successful in preventing thestuffing of all explosive or flexible materials into or adjacent thecoin returns, thereby still allowing determined vandals to steal coinsfrom or disable such paystations. Additionally, these known devices andmodifications do not consistently prevent damage to the internalcomponents of the paystation or to the coin return itself when explosivematerials are inserted therein, or applied to the exterior surface areaaround the coin return opening. Finally, some of the disadvantages ofadding protective plates or covers to the lower housing or coin returndoor of a paystation, as set forth in some of the prior art patents, isthat they actually deflect the gasses or explosive force of anyexplosives detonated therein into the telephone enclosure and theinternal components thereof. Or, the added weight of such protectivecovers make the coin box more difficult and cumbersome to open andremove. Or, the added cover offers sharp edges or surfaces that a vandalmay use as an application point for prying tools. Additionally, theadding of covers or plates to existing equipment in paystations may addsignificantly to their cost, which added cost cannot always bejustified.

Therefore, there still exists a need for a dependable coin returnprotection means which is low in cost, easy to manufacture and install,and which overcomes the problems set forth above.

The invention disclosed herein overcomes many of the above-mentionedlimitations and problems as well as additional problems, such as drugdealers or others using telephone paystation coin returns for drug dealsor other nefarious schemes. This is usually accomplished by insertingdrugs, syringes, or other unwanted items behind coin return doors forcollection by a third party. However, an unsuspecting payphone userreaching for change after attempting to use the telephone may come incontact with the drugs, or be harmed by the syringes or other itemsinserted therein. Applicant's novel device overcomes this problem, andothers, by the provision of an improved, protective coin return havingno coin return door at the front of the opening behind which items maybe hidden. Applicant's device does include an arcuate outer sweep flaphaving a downwardly extending leg portion having a flap contained at theouter end thereof, a vapor flap, and at least one inner flap cooperatingwith the outer sweep flap, which allow any materials stuffed into theopening to be seen, or to be swept from the coin return retrieval areathrough a rear opening. The lower flap, the vapor flap, and the internalcooperating flaps also dissipate and block the force of any explosivematerials inserted and exploded in the coin return to prevent any damageto the coin return, the telephone paystation enclosure, and/or theinternal components of the telephone. Furthermore, the improved coinreturn of the present invention may be used for new telephonepaystations installations, or, in its preferred embodiments, is readilyadapted for use with existing telephone paystations to provide addedsecurity to the coin return area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved coin return for a telephone paystation.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide animproved coin return for a telephone paystation which is adapted to besecurely attached in existing telephone paystation enclosures.

It is a still more particular object of the present invention to providean improved coin return for a telephone paystation which is designed tofoil vandals.

It is yet a more particular object of the present invention to providean improved coin return for a telephone paystation having protectiveinternal and external flap means to prevent vandalism, and to bothdissipate and block the explosive force of any materials detonatedtherein.

It is a further particular object of the present invention to provide animproved coin return for a telephone paystation having novel coindeflection and path means.

It is yet another particular object of the present invention to providean improved coin return for a telephone paystation which includes aneasily operated sweep means to permit easy actuation of an external flapmeans so as to sweep any materials inserted therein out of the coin pathand to block the coin chute.

It is a still further particular object of the present invention toprovide an improved coin return for a telephone paystation havingpivoting inner and outer flap means.

It is yet a further particular object of the present invention toprovide an improved coin return for a telephone paystation having nooutside door, and an integrated design that blends with and is moresecurely fastened in existing paystations.

It is yet a still further particular object of the present invention toprovide an improved coin return for a telephone paystation assemblyhaving cooperating pivotable inner and outer flap means forming aportion of the coin path and providing enhanced security for the coinreturn and the telephone paystation enclosure.

And, it is a final particular object of the present invention to providean improved coin return for a telephone paystation having a plurality ofexterior and interior flap means fabricated from stainless steel, whichmay be easily manufactured and readily incorporated into existingtelephone paystations to provide a stronger coin return, andsubstantially block and diminish the force of any explosives detonatedtherein.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an improved coin return assembly for a telephone paystationwith a pivotable outer flap means incorporating a portion of theinternal coin path and having a downwardly depending leg portion havinga lower flap which blocks the insertion of and/or sweeps any insertedmaterials contacted thereby out of the coin path, and at least oneinternal flap means pivotably mounted to a wall, within the coin path,which cooperates with the outer flap means to aid in substantiallyblocking any explosive force, or resulting gasses from an explosivedetonation therein, from entering the internal areas of the payphone.The at least one internal flap means also acts to guide coins in thecoin path so as to properly exit into a coin retrieval cavity forretrieval by a payphone user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed tobe novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Thepresent invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an improved coin return of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken along line 2--2, of the coin return ofFIG. 1, inserted in a telephone paystation enclosure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of the improved coinreturn;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a still further embodiment of the improvedcoin return; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a yet further embodiment of the improvedcoin return.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modescontemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Variousmodifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, since the generic principles of the present invention have beendefined herein specifically to describe an improved protective coinreturn for a telephone paystation assembly, identified generally at 10.

Turning first to FIGS. 1-2 of the drawing, the preferred embodiment ofthe coin return 10 is shown inserted a telephone paystation enclosure33. The coin return 10 includes an exterior housing 12 comprised of twohalves or cooperating components. These halves are made from zinc,stainless steel, or the like, and secured together, in any manner knownto those skilled in the art, to form the housing 12. The housing 12 hasno exterior door, but includes an outer sweep or flap means 11, shapedand dimensioned so as to snugly fit into the rectangular interiorthereof. The sweep means 11 is pivotably mounted about a pin or point21, and includes a downwardly depending leg portion 11a, which isdimensioned to allow coins to pass under its lower end, but acts tosweep any materials inserted through the open front portion 35 of thehousing 12, and which are contacted by this lower leg portion 11a, outof the coin path. Any material contacted by and swept rearwardly by leg11a will be pushed through a rear opening 36, into a storage area oropening 37 in the telephone paystation enclosure, for retrieval anddisposal at a later date. The sweep means 11 also includes a frontactuating means or knob 23 which, when pushed, pivots the sweep meansaround the pivot pin 21, in the direction of the arrow 34. The sweepmeans 11 may be allowed to return to its rest position shown in FIGS. 1and 2 by gravity, or may include a biasing means, such as a spring 14,mounted to the pivot means 21 and to assist in biasing the sweep meansassembly 11 into its rest position. The biasing means 14, if used,preferably includes a pair of resilient arms which coact with aflattened portion of interior surface 25, forming a portion of theinternal coin path, of sweep means 11 and a pin or stop means 22 held inor forming a part of a bracket 13, formed to or captured in the housing12, in a known manner. The housing 12 is in turn securely mounted in thetelephone paystation enclosure 33, in a manner described more fullybelow.

The internal coin path of housing 12 also includes an internal coinslide or chute 16 connected in a known manner to the normal coin returnmeans from a telephone paystation in the enclosure 33, via a coin entryopening 15. That is, coins are dropped from the telephone paystationinto opening 15, in a known manner, hit and roll or slide down chute 16,pass around the end of chute 16 and between edge 26 of a knife means 17,and an aligned, arcuate portion of interior surface 25, forming aportion of the internal coin path. The coins then pass through or undera pivotable inner flap 18, down a slide area 28 below the lower end ofleg 11a, and into coin retrieval area or cavity 27. If the flap 18 isfor any reason blocked or held in place, the coins will not pass underthis flap, but will be backed-up or held in position behind the flap.Because of the open front 35 of the coin return 12 of the presentinvention, the explosive force of any materials detonated in or near thecoin return will be dissipated or expelled outwardly through this openfront. Furthermore, a person using the telephone paystation can see intothe coin retrieval area 27 through the open front to ascertain if thereare any coins, foreign objects, or other materials therein. If anymaterials are located therein, or no coins are seen, the materials maybe removed through the front opening 35 or pushed or swept from the coinpath by pushing on knob 23 to pivot the sweep means 11 and flap means18. The actuation of the knob 23, sweep means 11 and flap 18, will notonly push unwanted materials through opening 36 by means of dependingleg 11a, but will then also allow any coins backed up behind flap 18 topass by the unclogged flap 18 and to exit between the end of leg 11a andcoin slide 28, into coin retrieval area 27. The coins may then beretrieved by the telephone user from coin retrieval area 27 by insertinga finger into opening 35 and sliding the coins out. A hole 24 may beprovided in the bottom of coin retrieval area 27 to allow anycondensation or moisture collected therein to be drained away.

The sweep means 11, 11a and flap assembly 18, as well as the remainingcomponents of the coin return housing 12, are fabricated to exactingtolerances and are made from strong, rigid, and secure high strengthmaterials, such as stainless steel, or if to be used in certain lessvulnerable areas, steel, or the like. These high strength materials mustbe strong enough to resist tampering with by vandals. The internal flapassembly 18 is pivotably mounted on a pivot pin 19, and is actuated bygravity or, preferably, includes a pair of resilient arms, as shown inFIG. 2, so as to aid gravity in biasing the flap into its rest position.This flap assembly 18 is dimensioned so that it fits snugly in the coinpath, with the end of its downwardly extending leg coacting with theinternal surface 25, forming a portion of the coin path, of thedepending leg portion 11a. Flap assembly 18 prevents any flexiblematerials from being inserted into the coin path behind the leg 11a.Also, if an explosive device is detonated in the coin return, the flapassembly 18 will be rotated by the force of the explosion into moresolid contact with the coin path 25 to thereby form a seal to preventany explosive force or vapor from reaching the internal components ofthe payphone. The rear of the downwardly extending leg of flap 18includes a sharpened means, such as a pin 29, to burst any balloons orother inflatable items inserted behind the flap in an attempt to blockthe flap from swinging freely in the direction of arrow 38.

When looking at FIG. 2, if the knob 23 of the sweep means 11 is pressedinwardly, in the direction of arrow 34, toward the coin chute 16, theinterior surface 25 of leg 11a, forming a portion of the coin path, willpress against the lower or outer end of the downwardly extending leg ofinterior flap 18, to move flap 18 in the direction of the arrow 38,toward the rear opening 36 until the lower ends of leg 11a and flap 18contact a stop portion or wall 20 formed in or to the housing 12, tothereby both stop the movement of sweep 11 and completely block-off theopening into the coin path and coin chute 16. At the same time, anymaterial (other than any coins, of course) in the coin slide area 28, orcoin path, will be pushed or swept by the leg 11a through rear opening36 and into compartment 37.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the coin return of the presentinvention is preferably inserted into and held in an existing coinreturn opening 39 of the telephone paystation enclosure 33, as follows:the housing 12 is inserted into opening 39 until a pivot area 30 of thehousing is aligned with and placed over the lower part of the opening39. The housing 12 is then pivoted or rocked around pivot area 30, intothe interior of the enclosure 33, until interior surface of outer lip12a of the housing contacts the exterior of the enclosure 33 and anupper, deeper slotted opening 32, formed in housing 12, is aligned withthe top surface of the opening 39. The housing 12 is then pushedupwardly until the top surface of opening 39 of enclosure 33 bottoms outin the deeper slotted opening 32. The bottom of housing 12 is thenpushed or rocked inwardly, passed pivot area 30, until the interiorsurface of outer lip 12a of the housing contacts the exterior of theenclosure 33 and a lower, shallower slotted opening 31, formed inhousing 12, is aligned with the bottom surface of the opening 39. Thehousing 12 is then allowed to drop until shallower slotted opening 31bottoms out against the bottom surface of opening 39. The housing maythen be firmly held in position by means pressed against the uppersurface of bracket 13, in a manner well known to those skilled in theart, and will then remain in the position shown in FIG. 2, until thesteps described above are performed, in the reverse order, to remove thesame.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there shown is a further embodiment 40 of thecoin return of the present invention, which is substantially identicalto that shown in FIG. 2. The same elements as those contained in thecoin return 10 of FIG. 2 are identified with the same numerals in FIG.4. It, therefore, can be seen that this embodiment includes all of theelements of coin return 10 except for spring means 14, and furtherincludes a second, gravity actuated flap means 42, pivotably mounted toa pivot means 44 held in or formed to bracket 13. This pivotable secondflap means 42 is shown as not extending all the way to and touching thecoin slide 16 and is specifically sized and dimensioned to cooperatewith the coin slide 16 to guide or rearrange any coins which may roll orotherwise be skewed when coming down the slide. Second flap means 42 isparticularly useful to ensure that there is no chance of any coin backupor jam in those telephone paystations which dump or return largequantities of coins at one time (up to $5.00 worth in some situations).

FIG. 4, shows a further embodiment 50 of the coin return of the presentinvention, which operates in a manner similar to that of the embodimentshown in FIG. 2. Similar elements as those contained in the coin return10 of FIG. 2 are identified with the corresponding numerals plus thesuffix "b" in this FIG. 4. It, therefore, can be seen that thisembodiment includes most of the elements of coin return 10, such as anexterior housing 12b comprised of two halves or cooperating componentsfabricated in the same manner as housing 12, described above. Thehousing 12b is shown as being deeper, or extending further inwardly intothe enclosure 33, so that it contains an elongated coin slide 28b whichextends for a longer distance than the coin slide 28 of coin return 10,as explained more fully below. The housing 12b also lacks an exteriordoor, and includes a substantially arcuate outer sweep or flap means11b, shaped and dimensioned so as to snugly fit into the rectangularinterior of the housing 12b. The sweep means 11b is pivotably mountedabout a pin or point 21b, and includes a downwardly depending legportion 52 having an arcuate inner surface 54, forming a part of thecoin path. As shown, this leg portion 52 is dimensioned so as to bespaced from elongated coin slide 28b to allow coins to pass under itsouter end. However, leg 52 acts to sweep any materials inserted throughthe open front portion 35b of the housing 12b, and contacting the leg,out of the coin path or coin slide 28b. Any material contacted by andswept rearwardly by leg 52 will be pushed through a rear opening 36b,into a storage area or opening 37b in the telephone paystationenclosure. The sweep means 11b also includes a front actuating means orknob 23b which, when pushed, pivots the sweep means around the pivot pin21b, in the direction of the arrow 34b. Biasing means, such as a spring56, is mounted between an interior point of the sweep means 11b and asecuring point 57 on a bracket 13b, or the like, in a known manner, tobias the sweep means assembly lib into its rest position, as shown inFIG. 4. The sweep means 11b also includes an arcuate interior surface25b, forming a portion of the coin path. The housing 12b is alsosecurely mounted in the telephone paystation enclosure 33, in the samemanner as described above.

The housing 12b does not include an internal coin slide or chute similarto that shown at 16 in FIGS. 2 and 4. The housing 12b does include acoin entry opening 15b, connected in a known manner to the normal coinreturn means from a telephone paystation in the enclosure 33. Therefore,when coins are dropped from the telephone paystation into opening 15b,they first contact and move flap 18b, pivotably mounted about pivot pinor point 19b formed to or adjacent the opening 15b, in housing 12b. Theweight of the coins is sufficient to move flap 18b downwardly so thecoins pass between the flap and the arcuate interior coin path portion25b. Depending on the number of coins being returned, lower end 58 offlap 18b will be moved away from contact with the arcuate interior coinpath 54, against the bias of a resilient arm 59 of flap 18b, pressedagainst a fixed surface 60 formed to or as part of the housing 12b. Theflap 18b can be moved in the direction of the arrow 38b, until ittouches or is stopped against wall 20b. The coins then drop pastpivotable inner flap 18b until they contact slide 28b. The coins movedown slide area 28b below the end of leg 52, and into an enlarged coinretrieval area or cavity 27b, capable of receiving more coins. When allthe coins pass by flap 18b, resilient arm 59 will move or return theflap, in the direction of arrow 61, until the flap comes to its restposition, as shown in FIG. 4. If for any reason the flap 18b is blockedor held in place, the coins will not pass by this flap, but will bebacked-up or held in position behind the flap. Since this coin return 50also includes an open front portion 35b, a person using the telephonepaystation can see into the coin retrieval area 27b and operate thesweep means 11b in the same manner as sweep 11, or may retrieve thecoins from enlarged coin retrieval area 27b, in the same manner asdescribed above. The components of the coin return 50 are fabricated ina manner identical to, or similar to those of coin returns 10 and 40.

Looking at FIG. 4, when the knob 23b of the sweep means 11b is pressedinwardly, in the direction of arrow 34b toward the rear opening 36b, thearcuate interior surface or coin path 54 of leg 52 will press againstthe lower or outer end 58 of interior flap 18b, to move flap 18b in thedirection of the arrow 38b, until this lower end 58 and the end of leg52 contact the stop portion or wall 20b, to thereby both stop movementthereof, and completely block-off the opening into the coin path andcoin entry 15b. At the same time, any material in the coin slide area28b contacted by the leg 52 or flap 18b will be pushed or swept throughrear opening 36b and into compartment 37b.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there shown is a yet further embodiment 60 of thecoin return of the present invention, which is similar to those shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, and in which elements similar to those contained in thecoin return 10 of FIG. 2 are identified with the corresponding numeralsplus the suffix "c" in this FIG. 5. It, therefore, can be seen that thisembodiment includes most of the elements of coin return 10, but that thespring means 14 of FIG. 2 has been replaced by a spring means 62, and apivot point 21c, about which a downwardly depending rearwardly slopingarm 11c rotates, has been moved to a point closer to the front of thecoin return 60. Furthermore, an inner pivotable flap 18c is providedwith a bent or curved end portion 69 which cooperates with, or is biasedinto contact with an indented portion or valve seat, described below,formed on arm 11c. Additionally, although an exterior housing 12c isstill comprised of two halves or cooperating components fabricated inthe same manner as housing 12, described above, it includes a rear orvapor flap 64, pivotably mounted to a pin means 66 formed to or in thehousing 12c to completely block rear opening 36c, when seated therein. Acoin slide portion 28c of the housing 12c extends for a longer distanceinto the housing than the coin slide 28 of coin return 10. The housing12c also lacks an exterior door, but includes an outer sweep or flapmeans 11c, shaped and dimensioned so as to snugly fit into therectangular interior of the housing 12c. The sweep means 11c ispivotably mounted about pin 21c, and includes a downwardly depending legportion which ends in a downwardly extending opening 68, having an endflap 70 pivotably mounted therein, so as to be capable of moving betweenend walls 72 and 74 thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the pivotable end flap70 is dimensioned so as to extend downwardly toward, but not touchelongated coin slide 28c, thereby providing a reduced space 76therebetween, in the rest position. Coins will therefore, be allowed topass under the outer end of end flap 70, and if bunched up for somereason will contact and rotate the end flap forward, toward the frontopening 35c, to allow the coins to be seen and removed from the coinreturn area. However, the downwardly extending end flap 70 will alsoprevent most materials from being inserted therepast and, since it isdesigned to touch the coin slide 28c when a front actuating means 23c ispushed in, will act to sweep any materials which may be forced past thepivotable end flap 70, out of the coin path or coin slide portion 28c,against the vapor flap 64 to pivot the same, and then through the rearopening 36c, into a storage area or opening 37c in a telephonepaystation enclosure. The sweep means 11c also includes the frontactuating means or knob 23c, which preferably extends out further fromthe front of the payphone than similar actuating means of FIGS. 2, 3 and4, for easy actuation. This knob 23c, when pushed, pivots the sweepmeans 11c around the pivot pin 21c, in the direction of the arrow 34c.The spring 62, mounted within an interior opening 63 formed in the sweepmeans 11c biases the sweep means assembly 11c into its normal or restposition, shown in FIG. 5. The sweep means 11c also includes an arcuateinterior surface 25c, forming a portion of the coin path.

The housing 12c may also be securely mounted in a telephone paystationenclosure, in the same manner as described above, and includes a coinentry opening 15c, connected in a known manner to the coin return meansfrom a telephone paystation. Therefore, when coins are dropped from atelephone paystation into opening 15c, they first contact and move alongthe internal coin path of housing 12c, including an internal coin slideor chute 16c. After hitting and rolling or sliding down chute 16c, thecoins pass around the end of chute 16c, and between an edge 26c of aknife means 17c, and the aligned, arcuate portion of interior surface25c. The coins then pass through or under a pivotable inner flap 18c,which is normally biased against a specifically formed seat 65 in thesweep means 11c, adjacent the lower end flap 70. After exiting the flap18c the coins move down the slide area 28c, and travel into coinretrieval area or cavity 27c. If the flap 18c is, for any reason,blocked or held in place against seat 65, the coins will not pass underthis flap, but will be backed-up or held in position behind the flap. Aswith the other embodiments of this invention, because of the open front35c, and further because of the lower extending end flap 70 and vaporflap 64, the explosive force of any materials detonated in or near thecoin return will be dissipated or expelled outwardly through this openfront 35c. Furthermore, a person using the telephone paystation can seeinto the coin retrieval area 27c through the open front to ascertain ifthere are any coins, foreign objects, or other materials therein.

When the knob 23c of the sweep means 11c of this embodiment is pressedinwardly, in the direction of arrow 34c toward the rear opening 36c andvapor flap 64, the end flap 70 will bypass any coins therein, but willcontact any materials pressing against or pushed by the lower endthereof. Such materials will cause the end flap 70 to rotate until itcontacts wall 72, thereby allowing the sweep means 11c to move thematerial, with flap 18c closed, toward rear opening 36c. Any material somoved will be pushed or swept by lower end flap 70 up against vapor flap64, until the end flap 70 contacts the coin slide 28c. The material willalso cause the vapor flap to open so that the material is pushed throughrear opening 36c and into compartment 37c.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-describedpreferred embodiments are subject to numerous modifications andadaptations without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than asspecifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A coin return for insertion into a telephonepaystation enclosure assembly, comprising, in combination:an exteriorhousing comprised of two halves secured together to form an internalcoin path in an interior cavity having a front opening, rear opening anda coin entry opening connected together by said interior cavity; a sweepmeans comprised of an outer flap means dimensioned to snugly fit intosaid interior cavity; said outer flap means pivotably mounted in saidinterior cavity for movement between a first position adjacent saidfront opening and a second position, away from said front opening andtoward said rear opening; said internal coin path formed in saidinterior cavity extending between said coin entry area and a coinretrieval area adjacent to and accessible through said front opening;said front opening having a top portion and a bottom portion, with saidbottom portion being open at all times so that any coins or othermaterials in said coin retrieval area may be viewed and accessiblethrough said bottom portion; said outer flap means including a frontface and a rear face, with an actuating portion connected to said frontface and extending into said top portion of said front opening; saidfront face of said outer flap means extending away from said actuatingportion and said front opening, and ending in a downwardly depending legportion having an outer end; a separate, downwardly depending end flap,movably secured to said outer end of said downwardly depending legportion; said rear face of said outer flap means forming a portion ofsaid internal coin path; said rear opening connected to said interiorcavity allowing any unwanted materials stuffed into said coin retrievalarea and behind said downwardly depending end flap, to be swept fromsaid internal coin path and through said rear opening, by saiddownwardly depending end flap, upon movement of said outer flap means,by said actuating portion, from said first position to said secondposition; and said downwardly depending end flap being dimensioned toallow coins to pass along said internal coin path on said rear face ofsaid outer flap means and past said downwardly depending end flap, butto sweep any unwanted materials inserted into said coin retrieval area,out of said internal coin path, and through said rear opening of saidexterior housing.
 2. The coin return of claim 1, wherein said outer endincludes a downwardly depending opening formed therein, and saiddownwardly depending end flap is pivotably mounted in said downwardlydepending opening.
 3. The coin return of claim 2 wherein a pivotableinner flap means mounted to said housing cooperates with a specificallydesigned seat formed on said rear face of said outer flap means adjacentsaid downwardly depending opening.
 4. The coin return of claim 2 whereinsaid downwardly depending opening includes a pair of walls and saiddownwardly depending end flap pivots between said end walls.
 5. The coinreturn of claim 4, further including a knife edge in said inner coinpath, adjacent an arcuate portion of said rear face of said pivotingouter flap.
 6. The coin return of claim 5, wherein a vapor flap meanscooperates with and completely blocks said rear opening to prevent anyvapor from passing through said rear opening.
 7. The coin return ofclaim 6, wherein said outer flap means is mounted to a pivot pointformed close to said coin entry opening and includes a recessed areahaving a spring biasing means.
 8. A coin return for insertion into atelephone paystation enclosure assembly, comprising, in combination:anexterior housing comprised of two halves secured together to form aninternal coin path in an interior cavity having a front opening, rearopening and a coin entry opening connected together by said interiorcavity; a sweep means comprised of an outer flap means dimensioned tosnugly fit into said interior cavity; said outer flap means pivotablymounted in said interior cavity for movement between a first positionadjacent said front opening and a second position, away from said frontopening and toward said rear opening; said internal coin path formed insaid interior cavity extending between said coin entry area and a coinretrieval area adjacent to and accessible through said front opening;said front opening having a top portion and a bottom portion, with saidbottom portion being open at all times so that any coins or othermaterials in said coin retrieval area may be viewed and accessiblethrough said bottom portion; said outer flap means including a frontface and a rear face, with an actuating portion connected to said frontface and extending into said top portion of said front opening; saidfront face of said outer flap means extending away from said actuatingportion and said front opening, and ending in a downwardly depending legportion having an outer end; a downwardly depending opening formed insaid outer end of said downwardly depending leg having a further endflap pivotably mounted therein between two end walls, and said interiorface comprising an arcuate surface forming a portion of said internalcoin path and a specifically formed seat for an inner flap; said rearface of said outer flap means forming a portion of said internal coinpath; said rear opening connected to said interior cavity allowing anyunwanted materials stuffed into said coin retrieval area, and behindsaid further end flap, to be swept from said internal coin path andthrough said rear opening, by said further end flap, upon movement ofsaid outer flap means, by said actuating portion, from said firstposition to said second position; said further end flap beingdimensioned to allow coins to pass along said internal coin path on saidrear face of said outer flap means and past said further end flap, butto sweep any unwanted materials inserted into said coin retrieval area,out of said internal coin path, and through said rear opening of saidexterior housing.